PS22 Chorus

PS22 Chorus Is Shut Down?!

2012-01-20T07:58:00.002-05:00

UPDATE: Glamour Magazine's website posted this video with very kind words about the chorus!

Edge of Glory!

2012-01-18T05:48:00.004-05:00

After posting the outrageous version of Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory" the PS22 Chorus of 2012 did with Ithacappella last week, we thought we'd share our original vision of the arrangement before our favorite fifth graders mixed it up with their college buds. Let's hear it for Daniel-san on the drums, Kiarah on the solo, and Ms. Lisa on the camera!

40 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE!!

2012-01-14T23:38:00.003-05:00

Today the PS22 Chorus celebrates reaching 40,000,000 video views on its YouTube channel! Just crazy!! 'Nuff said!

I'll Keep It With Mine

2012-01-14T14:42:00.003-05:00

Here's a song we started preparing at Friday's rehearsal to record this upcoming Tuesday, but the kids made such quick and excellent work of it, we decided to jump the gun and debut it this weekend! Here is the classic song "I'll Keep It With Mine" by Bob Dylan, covered by the extraordinary Nico and also notably by my childhood idol, Susanna Hoffs (from The Bangles, whom the PS22 Chorus was fortunate enough to perform with at the Tribeca Film Festival this past April). This version owes a lot to all three renditions obviously, but most notably the Hoffs rendition, as that was the one that introduced me to the song back in high school. Thanks to Ms. Laurie for doing such a great job filming her first official PS22 Chorus video!

PS22 Chorus & Ithacappella 2012 (RE-Updated!)

2012-01-10T18:15:00.008-05:00

Today the PS22 Chorus had its annual get-together with our college buddies, Ithacappella (the a cappella men's choir from Ithaca College), and I think it's safe to say that this year's was our best collaboration with the boys to date! The kids turned out 3 amazing numbers with their college counterparts, and every song was golden!

We started off with a brilliant take on "Edge of Glory" by PS22 Chorus fan Lady Gaga! (Also featured on Ithacappella's bridge is a medley of "Take On Me" by A-ha, "Someone Like You" by Adele, and "Firework" by Katy Perry!) Props to Kiarah for contributing her beautiful talent on the solo parts!

Here are the kids joining in (without any previous practice I should add) to Ithacappella's version of "Stereo Hearts" by Gym Class Heroes ft. Adam Levine from Maroon 5!!

And finally, here is the last video from our amazing day with Ithacappella! Here is "Someone Like You" by Adele!

UPDATE (1-12-12): Awesome review from New York Magazine & VH1's Best Week Ever praising the "Edge of Glory" cover!

UPDATE 1-13-12: "Edge of Glory" was featured and praised as "simply outstanding" on HelloGiggles.com, the popular entertainment sight founded by actress/musician Zooey Deschanel, producer Sophia Rossi, and internet sensation, Molly McAleer!

What The Water Gave Me

2012-01-06T19:08:00.007-05:00

PS22 Chorus of 2012 are back with a vengeance with this amazing cover of "What The Water Gave Me" by Florence & The Machine! (Florence was a fellow performer at this year's Academy Awards ceremony at which the PS22 Chorus gave its history-making performance of "Over The Rainbow!") The kids sound magnificent, and Thoryn, a Grade A individual with regard to both her sound and spirit, suits the song perfectly! MAJOR props go to her for such a passionate performance on her first solo!

UPDATE (1-8-12): Florence Welch tweeted to PS22 Chorus to acknowledge Thoryn and the kids for their performance of "What The Water Gave Me!" Check it out below!

Grenade

2012-01-03T20:46:00.003-05:00

Kevin and Kahlil put together their own version of "Grenade" by Bruno Mars, so we brought Daniel-san in on bongos and put the chorus on backup duty to get this great (and unintentionally amusing) spontaneous version of the mega-hit!

DECEMBER 2011 POLL RESULTS!

2012-01-01T22:41:00.006-05:00

The fans have spoken, and your favorite V V Brown / PS22 Chorus performance is "Children!"

Don't to forget to vote on our new January poll which asks for your favorite performance from our recent collaboration with 30 Seconds To Mars! Check out all the nominated videos on our 30 Seconds To Mars post!

Sinead O'Connor & Travie McCoy Are PS22 Fans!

2012-01-01T16:53:00.005-05:00

PS22 Chorus can add Travie McCoy and Sinead O'Connor to the roster of its impressive celebrity fan club! Today, Sinead posted on her website:

"oh and do watch PS22 Chorus doing my song Jackie... Most beautiful, joyous thing I seen apart from me own children. Watch for kid going wild with excitement at end. SO wanna meet that kid one day. All of them. Anyone know how to get in touch with their teacher or school?"

Thrilled to hear this kind of praise from an artist whose brilliant music and talent have been a huge source of inspiration! Also wonderful to see an amazing tweet from Travie McCoy (most famous for his song "Billionaire"), who aside from his incredible solo career also acts as the lead singer of Gym Class Heroes! The PS22 Chorus recently covered the group's new song, "The Fighter!" Check out what Travie had to say below:

Happy New Year from the PS22 Chorus of 2012!

2011-12-31T17:50:00.005-05:00

Check out this incredible newly posted video of an acoustic piano performance of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" with some incredible bonus footage from our 2011 journey to Hollywood! It was an unbelievable 2011 for PS22 Chorus and we look forward to another amazing year! We wish all of our students, families, friends, and fans a brilliant 2012!!

Divina's Farewell Performance

2011-12-26T14:27:00.006-05:00

On Friday, the PS22 Chorus of 2012 gave its final performance of our 2011 Winter Concert to the second grade classes and some of the big-wigs from the NYC Dept. of Education. In the audience was Divina's Mini-me, Emma, so we called her up to join her sister on "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" by Arrows (covered famously by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.) It was an adorable moment that we felt compelled to film and post.... Afterwards at rehearsal, we had the sad task of bidding Divina farewell and good luck as Friday marked her final day at PS22. It was an emotional goodbye, but hopefully one that will serve as a reminder to this incredible young lady of the unforgettable impact she has had on ALL of us.

PS22 Chorus Winter Concert 2011!

2011-12-24T13:54:00.012-05:00

On Wednesday evening, December 21, 2011, PS22 Chorus of 2012 gave a stunning performance, one amazing song after another, at PS22's 12th Annual Winter Concert! Our fourth and fifth grade groups both gave simply electric performances that brought in the holiday season the best way possible! Below are only some of the incredible highlights!

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for filming and to Victor Breinberg for the fantastic pics on the post! Also huge thanks go to incredible PS22 Chorus alumni, Allie, Deon, and Clive for contributing their respective talents to make this truly an unforgettable night for all in attendance! In addition, we are very grateful to Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff for taking the time to come down and be a part of the festivities, as well as Jonathan Kalafer, the documentary filmmaker who filmed the upcoming PS22 Chorus documentary, tentatively titled, "Once In A Lullaby."

Craig Hatkoff bows to Daniel-san

Jonathan Kalafer bows to Daniel-san

Silent Knight

2011-12-21T15:54:00.002-05:00

Here's yet another amazing performance of the Christmas carol, "Silent Night," (another performance from last year's 4th graders at the 2010 Winter Concert) that we had the kids sing to my friend and colleague Mr. Knight (our bongo player in many of our early videos) to get him to lighten up for the holiday season! Maybe it worked, maybe it didn't, but either way it's a beautiful version of this classic traditional song, and Faith is just astounding on the solo!

Pablo The Reindeer

2011-12-21T06:25:00.006-05:00

(pic from 2010 PS22 Winter Concert by Victor Breinberg)

After the kids of PS22 Chorus of 2012 performed a dress rehearsal yesterday morning to get ready for their upcoming winter concert tonight, we decided to have a light rehearsal that afternoon, and had lots of fun revisiting some of the songs that the kids did last year as fourth graders at last year's show. Although about half of our current members were not in the chorus last year, they got the songs down quick! This one is "Pablo The Reindeer" by George Lovering, a song I was taught by Mrs. Eleanor Calhoun, MY chorus teacher from way back in intermediate school. Daniel-san did the solo at last year's performance, but this year completely ups the ante and brings the concept of "pop up video" to a whole new level! My personal favorite moments here are his random (and unplanned might I add) pop-ups toward the end! Definitely will provide some laughs for this holiday season!

PS22 Chorus Sings for Seniors at Sunrise!

2011-12-20T22:25:00.003-05:00

Yesterday the PS22 Chorus of 2012 serenaded the seniors at Sunrise Assisted Living in Staten Island to help bring in the holiday season in the best way possible! Of course the singing is incidental -- the best part is watching the young and old interact, and seeing how much joy the kids bring to the residents. Such an uplifting day for all involved and I'm so proud of the kids for truly understanding how important this kind of thing is. They are amazing!! I've said it before and I'll say it again -- BEST TRIP OF THE YEAR for the PS22 Chorus!

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for filming, and Ms. Calasso for the pics! You can also see more footage from yesterday's performance on NY1's website by clicking here.

Happy Chanukah from PS22 Chorus!

2011-12-19T16:22:00.004-05:00

PS22 Chorus of 2012 brings in Chanukah with this lively beautiful Hebrew traditional song, "Mi Yimalel" ("Who Can Retell?"). And big props to Alexis who does a great job on the solo! PS22 wishes a happy Chanukah to all those who are celebrating!

The First Noel (La Primera Navidad)

2011-12-17T15:20:00.004-05:00

Here is a gorgeous version of "The First Noel" in Spanish performed by the PS22 Chorus of 2012, and our latest crew never sounded better! Difficult harmonies performed impeccably and angelically by the kids. Maureen, one of the sweetest souls to ever join the ranks of the PS22 Chorus, sings the second verse so beautifully. Very proud of this performance....

Last Christmas

2011-12-13T07:59:00.002-05:00

Here is a lilting version of the classic holiday song, "Last Christmas" by Wham!, featuring Kahlil and the PS22 Chorus of 2012 in top form. We'd like to dedicate this one to George Michael (the writer of the song and lead singer of Wham!), and wish him a speedy recovery!

UPDATE: Big thanks to our awesome friend and supporter Perez Hilton for recommending "Last Christmas" to his followers!

30 Seconds To Mars & PS22 Chorus

2011-12-11T13:41:00.007-05:00

On Thursday night, the PS22 Chorus of 2012 set out to St. Peters Church in Manhattan to perform with the phenomenal 30 Seconds To Mars and the deservedly acclaimed Vitamin String Quartet! The kids joined in on three songs, "Alibi," "Closer To The Edge," & "King & Queens!" Check out 2 performances from the actual show below, and a special version of "Closer To The Edge" with behind-the-scenes footage from the soundcheck earlier that evening!

Thanks to the band (Jared Leto, Tomo Milcevik, Shannon Leto, Braxton Olita), their incredibly supportive and welcoming fans, David Bison for coordinating the kids' appearance, Ms. Lisa for filming, Ms. Laurie & Mrs. Johnson for the pics, and to everyone who helped make it a night to remember!

PS22 Chorus Accepts Village Voice KIDS Lifetime Achievement Award!

2011-12-11T12:17:00.004-05:00

On Wednesday, December 7, the 2011 Village Voice Web Awards ceremony took place at DROM, Avenue A in NYC! Before the event, the PS22 Chorus filmed a special performance of "Fighter" by Gym Class Heroes, and accepted the Lifetime Achievement on behalf of KIDS at the school. The video was then shown at the ceremony Wednesday evening! Check it out below! (The PS22 segment beings at 2:12.)

Big thank you to Village Voice for this illustrious honor!

Someone Like You Pt. II

2011-12-05T08:13:00.003-05:00

A while back, we made a family connection between several of our current and former PS22 Chorus members in a video entitled "Someone Like You." Many have since requested a complete version of the song by Adele. So when Kiarah's uncle (and former PS22 Chorus member Deon returned to PS22 on Friday, we thought it was a perfect opportunity to record that version with some help from his niece and even a little backup from the chorus itself! So much talent in one little auditorium....

NOVEMBER 2011 POLL RESULTS!

2011-12-04T14:18:00.000-05:00

The fans have spoken, and your favorite PS22 Chorus of 2012 cover (pre-November) is "Set Fire To The Rain" by Adele!

Don't forget to vote in our new December poll (on the right sidebar) allowing you to weigh in on your favorite of the three amazing songs PS22 Chorus performed two weeks ago with V V Brown! Check out all the nominated videos on our V V Brown post.

The Fighter!

2011-11-30T07:31:00.004-05:00

The fifth graders of the PS22 Chorus of 2012 proved themselves to be music class heroes with this incredible version of "The Fighter" by Gym Class Heroes (featuring Ryan Tedder)! Such a great version of a great song! And let's hear it for Daniel-san on the drums and his backup dancers(?)....

UPDATE: OneRepublic just tweeted about the PS22 Chorus cover of "The Fighter!"

"Shark In The Water" Currently Featured on YouTube Music Homepage!!

2011-11-23T22:06:00.002-05:00

Just The Way You Are

2011-11-23T17:03:00.003-05:00

Here is the amazing 2003 PS22 Chorus alum David returning to perform a special rendition of "Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars with the PS22 Chorus of 2012! Our security guard ("Babsy") comes in to listen, and adds a whole new dimension of entertainment to this video....

Jackie

2011-11-19T14:16:00.002-05:00

From the masterpiece of an album entitled, THE LION AND THE COBRA, here is the PS22 Chorus of 2012 singing "Jackie" by the brilliant Sinead O'Connor). The kids love the song and really do it justice! Daniel on the drums is spectacular, and Briana handles the solo parts magnificently! Thanks go to Mr. Eberle for bringing in the electric for this one, and to Ms. Lisa, as always, for her beautiful filming! This performance will definitely prove to be an all-time favorite!

This Post Sponsored by the Letters V & V, and the Color BROWN!

2011-11-17T19:06:00.006-05:00

The PS22 Chorus of 2012 got a fantastic treat yesterday when the group was visited by the enormously talented recording artist V V Brown and her guitarist Luke! It was a MAJOR event! The kids got together with V V on three of her songs, the first was her big hit, "Shark In The Water," and the next two are from her forthcoming album, Lollipops & Politics, called "Children" and "Famous!" Words can't describe the awesome atmosphere of music, inspiration, love and laughter in the room, so we'll just let the videos speak for themselves! Check them out below!

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for the beautiful videos, Ms. Laurie for the great pics (more below and more to come), Mr. Eberle for joining in on the bongos, Tara Chiari from EMI (and old friend from MY elementary school days) for setting this up, V V's guitarist Luke for jamming with us, and V V Brown herself for an unforgettable day of music, laughter, and inspiration!

Someone Like You

2011-11-12T17:47:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe PS22 Chorus is now beginning its 12th year! Here is a fun video showing that it's "all in the family" at PS22, featuring music from Adele, William Arms Fisher, Dvorak, and Cyndi Lauper!

PS22 Chorus of 2012 Header Updated!

2011-11-10T15:37:00.004-05:00

Another big thank you to our friend Zendrig for updating the PS22 Chorus of 2012 header to include a picture of the entire new crew!

PS22 Chorus Sings What You Know!

2011-11-04T22:39:00.004-04:00

The new 2012 crew outdid themselves in this very different take on the amazing song by Two Door Cinema Club, "What You Know." I was determined to wait until Monday to post this, but the chorus sounds its absolute best so far this year, and my pride in their performance outweighs my determination. Congrats to Sharon for her beautiful melancholy delivery of the solo, Daniel-san for his amazing drumming(!!), and to the entire chorus for successfully taking the original song (which is an alternative pop masterpiece) to a whole new place!

UPDATE (11-8-11): Two Door Cinema Club has posted the PS22 Chorus version of "What You Know" to their Twitter & Facebook pages! Check it out below! Big thanks to the band for acknowledging the kids' "amazing cover!"

OCTOBER 2011 POLL RESULTS!

2011-11-01T15:30:00.002-04:00

The fans have spoken, and your favorite PS22 Chorus Halloween-themed video is "Hungarian Wedding Song" by Tori Amos from the 2011 Chorus (which also features a cameo from current 2012 member Kaitlynn as the "happy" bride!)

Don't forget to vote in our new November poll (on the right sidebar) asking you to weigh in on your favorite PS22 Chorus of 2012 video so far! Check out the nominees below!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T16:13:00.002-04:00

PS22 Chorus of 2012 is Up Up Up!

2011-10-31T07:39:00.007-04:00

Here's the PS22 Chorus of 2012 singing the uber-catchy song "Up Up Up" by Givers! The song hasn't left my head since I first heard it, and now that the kids have covered it, it's etched and will never come out! So consider yourselves forewarned... Thanks to Mr. Eberle for drumming along, Mrs. Cohen for tuning me into the song, and of course to Ms. Lisa for filming. And how about a hand for Daniel-san and his amazing delivery of the solo??

UPDATE: Check out this awesome Facebook post from Givers, and the fantastic praise they give the kids for the cover they did of the band's song!

Divina has a Mini-me!

2011-10-29T11:03:00.002-04:00

Here is the PS22 Chorus of 2012 rock star Divina introducing us to her impossibly adorable baby sister Emma! And little girl can sang! The two of these girls together is just a cuteness explosion....

Super-cool Daniel is also onhand, preparing for his part in the chorus's new song set to debut very soon! And it's one of the kids' most fun and upbeat covers to date!

Wild Horses

2011-10-24T07:45:00.003-04:00

Covering one of the best songs ever written, here is the PS22 Chorus of 2012 singing a poignant version of "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones! (Our arrangement definitely owes a lot to The Sundays and their brilliant rendition.) This song was a special request by one of our favorite fans, and we dedicate this to Zen! Props to Kiarah who performs the solo parts beautifully, and to the entire chorus -- they certainly sound like they've been at this gig for much longer than the mere month and a half the new group has been together!

PS22 Chorus on Sesame Street Today!!

2011-10-21T07:44:00.002-04:00

Today the PS22 Chorus of 2011 is back in the house, as the video they filmed for Sesame Street aired today on the episode entitled, "Baby Bear's Baby Doll!" The video was produced by Stephanie Kemp and directed by Adam Bluming, and we are very grateful to Nela Films and everyone at Sesame for allowing us to post it!. This was filmed at the end of June after we were contacted by Nela, and asked to reinvent the Sesame Street classic, "Somebody Come and Play!" I'm very proud of the arrangement and certainly the playful & harmonious execution from the kids! And that's Renee on the solo who does such a fantastic job! If you missed this morning's airing, for those in the NY tri-state area, it will be on again tonight at 10pm on the WNETK network, and again on Monday morning at 7am on the WNET network! For the rest of you, check your local listings!

PS22 Chorus Loves Rock 'n' Roll!

2011-10-19T06:12:00.004-04:00

Here is the classic rock anthem made famous by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (originally by the Arrows), "I Love Rock And Roll," performed by the amazing new PS22 Chorus of 2012! These kids are getting better with each performance, and Divina on the leads is.... well.... divine!! (You may remember her from back in 1st grade when she gave her utterly ADORABLE performance of "Fabulous" at our third PS22 American Idol competition way back in 2008??) Divina herself selected the song, and as it's one of my favorites from MY childhood days, I'm really glad she brought it back!

"Theme D-rickilous" mashup with PS22 Chorus and Malawi school choir!

2011-10-17T16:24:00.005-04:00

Okay, this completely made our day! Apparently The Jacaranda School for orphans in Malawi, Southeast Africa, discovered PS22 Chorus's "Theme D-rickilous" video we made for Ricki Lake and Derek Hough and did their own version of the song! (Ricki Lake, class act that she is, will be donating all her earnings from her Dancing With The Stars appearance to Jacaranda the Foundation!) Ricki's team put together this "mashup" video of both group's performances! How wonderful to see that the PS22 Chorus is inspiring children all over the world!! In turn, WE are inspired! Check out the video and more appreciative praise from Ricki on her Twitter page below!

Steve Augeri & PS22 Chorus Perform at the Italian Harvest Festival!

2011-10-15T23:42:00.005-04:00

This afternoon the PS22 Chorus of 2012 gave its first ever public performance with Steve Augeri and his band at the Italian Harvest Festival in Snug Harbor on Staten Island! The two groups joined forces on two songs, the Journey classic "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Down By The Riverside" by The Steve Augeri Band! Check out both of the spectacular performances below!

It was indeed a wonderful day of celebrating Italian culture and music-making! And meeting and working with Steve was seriously like hanging out with an old friend -- such a great guy! Thanks to him and his band, Susan Piazza for coordinating this appearance, our dear Ms. Lisa for filming, Mr. Eberle for joining in on guitar, and Ms. Laurie & Mrs. Johnson for the great pics which you can see more of below!

PS22 Chorus Rehearses With Former Journey Lead Singer, Steve Augeri

2011-10-14T20:51:00.005-04:00

On Wednesday, former Journey lead singer, Steve Augeri, came down to rehearse with the PS22 Chorus of 2012 for their performance tomorrow at the Snug Harbor Italian Harvest Festival! Steve and the kids will be performing the group's biggest hit, "Don't Stop Believin'," together at the event! When Steve was originally asked to perform at the event, he sought out PS22 for the gig after seeing our classic 2009 viral performance of the song! Quite an honor! The kids will also be performing a special bonus number with the Steve Augeri Band, which we'll post this weekend....

The rehearsal was also featured on NY1 and covered by the Staten Island Advance, which you can see if you click on the respective links! Big thanks to Mr. Eberle for joining on guitar, Ms. Lisa for filming, Ms. Laurie (& again Ms. Lisa) for the pics, chorus member Kevin for his quick work on the amazing solo, Susan Piazza for putting all this together, and of course to Steve Augeri for not only sharing his talent and inspiration with the kids, but for proving to be a gentleman AND one of the coolest cats we've ever had the pleasure of working with! Check out some more pics below and stay tuned for more after the performance tomorrow!

TWO Upcoming PS22 TV appearances!

2011-10-11T06:21:00.003-04:00

Set those DVRs, TiVos & VCRs -- Two exciting upcoming TV appearances from our kids:

1) On Thursday of this week (10/13), you will see the PS22 Chorus of 2012's "Theme Drickilous" video be shown and discussed when our pal Ricki Lake makes a guest appearance on the new Rosie Show on the OWN network!

2) Then on Friday of next week (10/21), the PS22 Chorus of 2011 will make an encore appearance on Sesame Street on PBS with a video we filmed in June with the fantastic NELA FILMS crew! Super-excited for this one, as the kids will be be debuting a previously unseen cover, putting their own spin on a classic Sesame song! Can't say much more at this point, but this one is not to be missed!!

UPDATE (10-12): Just received word the Ricki Lake appearance on the Rosie Show has been postponed due to her hectic dancing schedule. I will update the blog with the rescheduled appearance as soon as I receive more info.... Stay tuned!

PS22 Chorus Discovers Paradise!

2011-10-10T12:44:00.008-04:00

Here is the PS22 Chorus of 2012 performing the new Coldplay song, "Paradise," which they learned in only two rehearsals! Our new crew is definitely on an impressive roll! And how about that Kahlil on the leads??

PS22 Chorus Sets Fire To The Rain!

2011-10-04T22:05:00.005-04:00

Hang on to your seats folks... The PS22 Chorus of 2012 is officially in the house, as we present this absolutely soul-stirring version of "Set Fire To The Rain" by the beautiful Adele! Of course, major accolades must go to our soloist, Kiarah, who on her first solo of the year just completely knocks it out of the park! For long time PS22 fans, you will most likely appreciate knowing that Kiarah is the niece of 2004 chorus legend Deon ("Ain't No Mountain High Enough"), which kind of explains things.... She chose the song herself and sang it for me yesterday just before rehearsal. Her rendition was so compelling that we were forced to drop everything on our agenda at rehearsal yesterday in order to create this performance. The new chorus members equally blew me away here as well, learning their respective parts in literally one half an hour before the recording! Sometimes the best things in life happen spontaneously, and we think you'll agree this video illustrates the point perfectly...

UPDATE (10-6-11): Thanks to our amazing friend and supporter, Perez Hilton, for his resounding praise for our latest cover!

SEPTEMBER 2011 POLL RESULTS!

2011-10-01T21:55:00.007-04:00

The fans have spoken, and your favorite PS22 Chorus remix is "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga remixed by YouTube user Mattiaskn123!

Don't forget to vote in our new October poll asking you to weigh in on your favorite PS22 Chorus Halloween-themed video! Check out the nominees below!

PS22 Chorus Covers "Fearlessness" by Tori Amos

2011-09-28T07:25:00.004-04:00

Here is the all-new PS22 Chorus of 2012 performing "Fearlessness" by the brilliant Tori Amos off of her recent classical music-based release, NIGHT OF HUNTERS! Soloist Faith and her fellow chorus members show amazing depth and soul in this beautiful cover version of Tori's song, based on the piece "Orientale" from 12 SPANISH DANCES by classical composer Enrique Granados. Certainly this is a challenging song for a brand new chorus to tackle (these kids are only working together for three weeks!), but somehow the new crew pulls it off (understatement alert!) with a multiple chill-inducing performance....

Thanks go (as always) to Ms. Lisa for her beautiful filming!

UPDATE (9/29/11): Thanks to the PS22 Chorus super-fan Perez Hilton for the wonderful accolades he bestowed on the kids for their wonderful performance on his blog today! Check out the screencap below!

PS22 Chorus is GOOD!!

2011-09-26T18:10:00.003-04:00

In addition to being featured on The Insider today, the new PS22 Chorus of 2012 was further acknowledged for its cover of "Pilgrimage" by Suzanne Vega on the mega-popular website Good.is! With major acknowledgement for their first two videos, it's safe to say these kids are on quite a roll!! Check out a screen cap of the fantastic review of the chorus's powerful performance below!

Ricki Lake & Derek Hough Watch PS22 Chorus Vid on THE INSIDER!

2011-09-26T18:02:00.005-04:00

Check out Ricki Lake and Derek Hough from Dancing With The Stars being shown the PS22 Chorus "Theme Drickilous" video on The Insider! Click on the above video to watch (PS22 segment comes in about 1:20) or the screen cap from the The Insider's website below to read! So cool!!

PS22 Chorus of 2012 Auditions (& Silliness!)

2011-09-25T05:23:00.002-04:00

The 2012 Pilgrimage

2011-09-22T15:59:00.006-04:00

With an appropriately titled cover as the PS22 Chorus of 2012 begins its journey, here is the brand new crew singing "Pilgrimage" by Suzanne Vega (co-written by Anton Sanko). Big props to Daniel for an amazing job on the solo part! This new 2012 group has been completely blowing me away thus far -- they're like old pros and it's only September!!

ET Online Gives Props to the all-new PS22 Chorus's First Video of the Year!

2011-09-22T07:11:00.005-04:00

The PS22 Chorus of 2012 is off to a pretty amazing start! Aside from the amazing recognition they've gotten from Ricki Lake and Derek Hough, yesterday the kids' first video was featured on ET Online's blog with some very encouraging words! Check out the screen cap below...

PS22 Chorus of 2012 Debuts "Theme Drickilous"

2011-09-19T07:42:00.008-04:00

After hearing through the grapevine that Ricki Lake was a huge PS22 Chorus fan, we decided to show her some support in turn on her latest endeavor as a Dancing With The Stars contestant! Her DWTS dance partner, Derek Hough, had started a theme song for their team, which Ricki tweeted last week, and at Friday's rehearsal, we decided to give them some help and finish it up for them.

So here it is, the long-awaited debut of the brand new PS22 Chorus of 2012 with its debut performance of the year, which we dedicate of course to Derek and Ricki, aka Team Drickilous! Pretty confident you'll agree that the new crew has personality and enthusiasm beyond the likes of which we've EVER seen before! And soloist Kevin shows he has only improved with age since winning our school's American Idol competition back in 2008, when he was only in first grade!

Definitely a fun way to start off the year...

FILMED BY: Ms. Lisa
EDITED BY: Mr. B

UPDATE: Thrilled to see that both Ricki and Derek tweeted (and retweeted respectively) some great responses to the 2012 kids' video debut!! We really appreciate them taking the time to send their love and gratitude on what we're sure must be an incredibly busy day for them with Dancing With The Stars debuting tonight! Check out the tweets below!

10 Years Later

2011-09-11T04:24:00.001-04:00

Never forget.

PS22 Chorus Alumni Star In Spike Lee 9/11 Commercial

2011-09-11T04:16:00.000-04:00

Weeks ago the PS22 Chorus was contacted by Spike Lee to sing its classic rendition of "Empire State of Mind" for a 9/11 themed commercial he was slated to direct. Unfortunately we were unable to participate, but we're thrilled to find out that more than a few of our former chorus members were selected to be included in the project! So huge congrats to Avery ("Sing Yourself" soloist), Jared ("Eye of the Tiger" soloist), Kayla S. ("Fireflies" soloist), Alyssa O. ("Run This Town" rapper), Eddie ("Wintersong" soloist), Ethan ("Sniffy"), Isaiah B., Leah L., Nicole M., and several other PS22 graduates! Check out the commercial and some behind the scenes footage as well below, where our former students are featured prominently!

And here is the original PS22 Chorus cover from 2010 that was, according to Spike Lee, a very big part of the inspiration behind his commercial.

PS22 Chorus Makeover 2012!

2011-09-10T12:44:00.000-04:00

With the brand new 2012 school year upon us, of course it is a time for change. To accompany the new array of bright-faced chorus members, we have updated the blog and shirt design accordingly, and we think the PS22 Chorus of 2012 is looking sharp!! Huge thanks to PS22 fan and friend Zendrig for the absolutely stunning new header pic!! Click on the pic below to check it out or download in full size!

NY TIMES Joins PS22 For Our First Day of the 2012 School Year!

2011-09-09T17:58:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Noah Rosenberg, reporter for the NY TIMES, spent the morning with us for our first day of the school year! The article is currently appearing in today's edition of the NY Times. For our out-of-state/country fans, catch the awesome write-up of his experience here. You can even see a glimpse of some of our brand new PS22 Chorus of 2012 members donning this year's T-shirts in the accompanying article! AND the brief announcement of a documentary project that many of you long-suspected was in the works! It's gearing up to be quite a year already, so stay tuned!!

September 11, 2001 Revisited

2011-09-06T05:14:00.001-04:00

As the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11/2001 approaches, we will be presenting over the course of the next few days the 2002 PS22-filmed docu-drama, The Conference, for the first time in its entirety in five separate video installments. This award-winning production was filmed in 2002, the same school-year as the September 11th attacks. In 2007, it was featured as part of an exhibit in the World Trade Center museum, TRIBUTE WTC. Pretty amazing especially when considering this was filmed with literally NO budget! 10 years later, and it still is the project I'm most proud to have been associated with. It's a tribute to these remarkable kids that after all this time, the movie still packs an emotional wallop in every which direction.....

AUGUST 2011 POLL RESULTS

2011-09-01T15:27:00.004-04:00

The fans have spoken on your favorite PS22 Chorus of 2011 viral video, and the winner is "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele!

Don't forget to vote in our new September poll asking you to weigh in on your favorite PS22 Chorus "remix!" Check out all the nominees below!

"This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" by The Talking Heads

(AUDIO ONLY)

VOTE FOR PS22!!

2011-08-21T17:38:00.002-04:00

Mashable.com is asking people to vote on their favorite "ROLLING IN THE DEEP" cover. VOTE PS22 here!

Little Dragon / PS22 Chorus remix!

2011-08-21T15:25:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to come across this video via Twitter! Thanks to J Barber for creating this awesome new "SoulChorea remix" of our collaboration with Little Dragon back in March. You can also download an mp3 of the remix here.

PS22 Chorus sings for Elvis Duran!

2011-08-05T15:25:00.004-04:00

Yesterday the PS22 Chorus of 2011 surprised nationally syndicated morning radio show host Elvis Duran with a special birthday performance of one of his favorite songs "PS22-ified" just for him! After you check out the above video, you can listen to Elvis's reaction below!

PS22 Chorus 2011 Reunites for Newport Folk Festival!

2011-08-02T21:03:00.013-04:00

On Saturday, the PS22 Chorus of 2011 had the distinct honor of opening up the festivities at this year's Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island! The kids performed a wicked 12 song set that bedazzled the crowd and earned them a couple of standing ovations throughout the performance! After they brought down the house, the kids made their way over to the Leggo Kids Tent, to meet up with our old friends and collaborators, the amazing Freelance Whales for a joyful encore of "Generator (1st Floor)" and "Hannah!"

The 2011 chorus has been receiving rave reviews for its farewell appearance at Newport, and although nothing could ever possibly capture the crackling energy of actually being there, you can check out the chorus's entire 45 minute performance below, courtesy of our fabulous Ms. Lisa!

And here is "Generator (First Floor)" with The Freelance Whales!

Thanks to everyone at Newport Folk Festival for having us, to The Freelance Whales for playing with us, Ms. Lisa, Mr. Eberle, Ms. Laurie, Mrs. Johnson, my dad (Victor Breinberg) for all the great pics, and most importantly to the kids themselves for a truly phenomenal day! What a way to go!!

JULY 2011 POLL RESULTS

2011-08-02T14:52:00.005-04:00

The fans have spoken on your favorite PS22 Chorus of 2011 collaboration, and in perhaps the closest race we've ever had, the most votes went to David Cook!

Don't forget to vote in our new August poll asking you to weigh in on your favorite PS22 Chorus of 2011 viral video! (All nominated videos over 100,000 views.)

PS22 Chorus to perform at Newport Folk Festival 2011!

2011-07-17T19:03:00.004-04:00

Exciting news! The PS22 Chorus of 2011 will be giving an encore performance at the 2011 Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island on July 30th! It is truly an honor to be asked to play at this historic and prestigious event with so many amazing co-headlining acts, including Elvis Costello, The Decemberists, Mavis Staples, Gillian Welch, EmmyLou Harris, and even one of the chorus's most amazing recent collaborators and friends, The Freelance Whales! So many more fantastic artists will be appearing as well, and we're proud to be featured among them. Check out the entire incredible artist lineup scheduled to appear over the course of the 2 day festival, and visit the PS22 Chorus's page here. Hope to see you all in Rhode Island!!

How To Get To Sesame Street...

2011-07-12T16:36:00.006-04:00

The PS22 Chorus of 2011 just had a great shoot with NELA Films for the classic PBS show, Sesame Street! We can't say too much about it yet, but it is set to air sometime this fall! You may recall that several years back the PS22 Chorus appeared in several episodes of the new Electric Company, and while they looked great, adding their patented charm and charisma to the show, they did not sing. On Sesame Street however, you will get to see the kids showcase all of their talent! Stay tuned for something very special....

PS22 Chorus with the awesome NELA FILMS crew!

"Changed My Life" 2011 Retrospective

2011-07-04T02:54:00.004-04:00

Check out this heart-warming video from members of the PS22 Chorus of 2011, reminiscing on this phenomenal year. The kids truly speak with a wisdom beyond their years...

PS22 Chorus 2011 -- The Last Goodbye....

2011-07-04T02:47:00.010-04:00

On Tuesday, June 28th, the PS22 Chorus of 2011 said its 'last goodbye' as the school year came to a close. It was a day filled with emotions that run the gamut, but despite the difficult send-off, the resounding feeling was pride in the accomplishments of an amazing year. The chorus sang their way out with a Mr. B original called, "Siren Song." It was difficult to get through, but it was a moment with this year's chorus that I'll never forget.

Just a week earlier, the kids received their diplomas at their graduation ceremony at Staten Island's historic St. George Theater. The chorus sang their way out with "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele, and the entire graduating fifth grade class joined in on an exuberant version of "Marching On" by OneRepublic. Extra special congrats to chorus member Cheyenne, who delivered the valedictorian speech, which was definitely a major highlight of the ceremony. You can see it at the end of the "Marching On" video below...

It's going to be an adjustment (as it always is) starting all over again with a brand new group of kids, but the 2011 group's legacy will live on. It's always hard saying goodbye, but it helps to know we'll be able to relive the collection of memories of a lifetime the kids have earned for themselves throughout the course of this school year just by visiting the blog. Kids, in the immortal words of Julius Caesar, "You came, you saw, you conquered." Hold on to these moments and let them serve as a source of strength and inspiration in the future to remind you that, indeed, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! We love you, believe in you, and will miss you terribly...

Stay tuned throughout the summer for some "extras" from this amazing year -- including improvs, solo performances, guest appearances from some of our favorite alumni, and even a couple of extra performances from the full group with some special guests. The chorus will even be regrouping on July 30th for a special public appearance which we'll elaborate upon VERY soon. So stay tuned!!

Trevor Live Gala 2011

2011-07-04T00:21:00.002-04:00

On Monday, June 27, the PS22 Chorus of 2011 gave their final performance of the school year at the Trevor Project's Live Gala at The Capitale in Manhattan! It was an honor to perform for such a worthy cause, and the kids were at the top of their game, receiving two well deserved standing ovations for the two songs they performed! You can check out the performance below, including the wonderful introduction from our old friend (and fellow Webby Award winner), Amy Poehler!

In addition to contributing to the wonderful efforts of The Trevor Project, the kids also got to spend a little time with Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, who was being honored that evening!

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for the great video (and for standing your ground with the security guard!), and Victor Breinberg (pops) for the fantastic pics on this post. (More below.) Lastly thanks to the Trevor Project for having us, and for the truly important work you do.

JUNE 2011 POLL RESULTS

2011-07-01T13:48:00.003-04:00

The fans have spoken and your favorite PS22 Chorus improv video is "Sunshine" by Azaria & Denise!

And be sure to vote in our new July poll which asks you to weigh in on your favorite PS22 Chorus of 2011 collaboration! Be an educated voter, and check out all the nominees below!

The Bangles

David Cook

Freelance Whales

Little Dragon

Matisyahu

Kylie Minogue

Katy Perry
(Click this link to see vid)

Judy Torres

KT Tunstall

Alexa Woodward

I Heart NY!

2011-06-27T07:45:00.005-04:00

Check out the indie New York anthem, "I Heart NY" by Samuel as performed by the ever-amazing PS22 Chorus of 2011! And yay for Sarah on the solo!!

And Samuel has already tweeted his enthusiasm over the PS22 Chorus cover! Check it out below!

PS22 Chorus makes Martina McBride cry...

2011-06-23T19:37:00.004-04:00

... and that's a good thing! Check out four time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride's tweets praising the PS22 Chorus cover of her song, "Anyway," below! She even took the time to respond to our tweet-backs, as you will see if you click on the pic below! Huge thanks to Martina for this wonderful acknowledgement!

MJ Tribute 2011!

2011-06-22T17:43:00.003-04:00

PS22 Chorus of 2011 & Marquis pay tribute to the legendary Michael Jackson with this whimsical version of "I Want You Back" from the Jackson 5! Marquis does a fantastic job on the leads....

And check this out! After posting the video this morning, YouTube user Immuzikation took it and made a pretty funky-cool remix! Check it out below....

Anyway

2011-06-17T16:53:00.003-04:00

Here is the last in our trilogy of graduation songs (along with "True Colors" and "Marching On") -- the beautiful "Anyway" by Martina McBride! A tender, lovely rendition....

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for her always wonderful filming!

PS22 Chorus & The Traveling Guitar Foundation!

2011-06-17T16:32:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, PS22 got a visit from the Traveling Guitar Foundation, founded by Damon Marks (son of Tony Marks, who sang alongide Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons). In addition to an incredible donation of acoustic guitars & amps and treating the entire fourth grade class to an amazing show, they also performed Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" with the fifth grade PS22 Chorus! It was a raucous and fun version, and Azaria did a brilliant job filling in for absent Denise! Props to Marquis as well, always impressive on the drums. Very cool hearing PS22 "electric," and compliments and thanks go to the entire crew from Traveling Guitar Foundation!

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for the amazing vid and pics!

PS22 Chorus with Tony Marks

David Cook performs with PS22 Chorus!

2011-06-11T14:49:00.011-04:00

David Cook delivers big time on the invitation he made to the PS22 Chorus of 2011 last month to sing with him on his new single, "The Last Goodbye!" But the fun didn't stop there! An amazing Q&A session led to additional performances of "Rolling In The Deep" and "Livin' On A Prayer!" David was even good enough to work out an acoustic arrangement of "Light On," a song my parents requested and that he kindly dedicated to them in honor of their respective birthdays! This was truly one of the most musically satisfying (and otherwise) artist collaborations PS22 Chorus was ever privileged to be a part of! Check out all the mind-blowing evidence that proves the point below!

Big thanks to David, his guitarist Neal Tiemann, and Jamie for making this happen! Also thanks and props go to Mr. Eberle for some additional guitarwork and rock star Marquis on the skins! Additional thanks to Ms. Lisa for her amazing filming on this! Nobody could have captured this unplugged performance on one hand-held camera better! And lastly, thanks to Victor Breinberg and Ms. Laurie for the fantastic pics! Check out more below!

Marching On!

2011-06-08T17:31:00.002-04:00

The PS22 Chorus of 2011 is going out with a bang with this absolutely INSANE version of "Marching On" by OneRepublic! The kids completely out-do themselves on this one, and Marquis is out of control on the skins!! Definitely the coup de grace from this year's group, and a performance that will be remembered....

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for capturing this glorious musical moment!

Elizabeth Berkley Hearts PS22 Chorus!

2011-06-03T20:59:00.003-04:00

Check out this awesome tweet (above) from Saved By The Bell actress Elizabeth Berkley! We <3 you back, Elizabeth!! Funny enough, in London back in 1999 before the PS22 Chorus came into existence (and before the current 2011 members were even born!), my friend Laura and I ran into Ms. Berkley who was dining with another current and fabulous PS22 Chorus fan (and collaborator), Kylie Minogue. Both were memorably gracious even back then! Isn't it awesomely bizarre how life comes full circle? Check out some pics below!

Energy

2011-06-02T17:06:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my friend Christian introduced me to Austra, the Toronto-based indie band, and I immediately fell in love -- here is a song from their brilliant album BEAT AND THE PULSE called "Energy!" Another triumph for the PS22 Chorus of 2011! Major props to Marquis on drums, and thanks to Ms. Lisa for her beautiful filming!

UPDATE 6-3-11: Austra's lead singer Katie Stelmanis tweets that her "mind is blown" after seeing PS22's cover of "Energy!" So cool!!

MAY 2011 POLL RESULTS!

2011-06-01T23:35:00.007-04:00

The fans have spoken, and your favorite PS22 hip-hop cover was "Empire State of Mind!"

Make sure you vote in our new June poll which allows you to vote for your favorite PS22 Chorus improv video! Check out the nominated videos below...

True Colors

2011-05-31T19:13:00.005-04:00

The PS22 Chorus of 2011 is going full throttle as we head towards the end of the school year with this gorgeous cover of "True Colors" by the legendary Cyndi Lauper! Another glorious accomplishment from our favorite fifth graders... worth the all sorts of black and blue I'm going to be tomorrow!

UPDATE 6-1-11: Thanks must again go to PS22 champion Perez Hilton for posting this on his blog!

Pretty Good Year

2011-05-27T16:39:00.005-04:00

The PS22 Chorus of 2011 has been on a fantastic roll of great performances lately, and this might top them all with the kids' absolutely gorgeous cover of Tori Amos's "Pretty Good Year!" And it certainly has been...

Thanks to Mr. Eberle for his amazing guitar work and to Ms. Lisa for her beautiful filming. And how about third grader Alicea on the solo?!

UPDATE 5-28-11: Thanks to our fantastic friend, Perez Hilton, for posting our latest video and bestowing some awesome praise!

Born This Way

2011-05-23T07:37:00.002-04:00

In honor of today's new album release by Lady Gaga, the PS22 Chorus of 2011 presents the inimitable Denise tearing up "Born This Way!"

PS22 Chorus Performs at Bronx Botanical Gardens

2011-05-22T14:11:00.004-04:00

On Friday, the PS22 Chorus of 2011 gave a truly outstanding performance at The Bronx Botanical Gardens for a bevy of principals attending a conference. The kids sang an absolutely stunning and heartrending version of "Daniel" by Elton John. Adham asked Marquis to join him on this, and the two together provide some serious chills when they nail that high E. One of my personal favorite live performances from PS22 of all-time for sure!! Thanks to our beloved Ms. Lisa for capturing it on video!

PS22 Chorus Rocks The Gridiron Gala!

2011-05-19T16:13:00.008-04:00

On Tuesday, the kids indeed rocked The Waldorf Astoria Hotel singing at The 18th Annual Gridiron Gala sponsored by United Way, which honors the legends of our 2 New York football teams, The Jets and The Giants! Jonathan, Brianna "Krispy", Marquis, and the PS22 Chorus tore it up on "Not Afraid" by Eminem and "Breaking It Up" by Lykke Li! Check out the performances below, filmed by our very own Ms. Lisa!

Thanks to Ms. Laurie also for the fantastic pics included in this post!

UPDATE 5-20-11: Thanks to Perez Hilton for posting the soundcheck version of "Breaking It Up" on his blog with such amazingly kind words!

Listen To Your Heart

2011-05-13T16:34:00.007-04:00

So I really wasn't expecting to have anything ready to post today, but the PS22 Chorus really blew me away this afternoon, picking up these difficult harmonies (with a key change no less) in just one rehearsal. So here is the beautiful 80's pop ballad by Roxette called "Listen To Your Heart," made all the more poignant by our favorite fifth graders! Thanks to Mr. Eberle for contributing his guitar skills, and of course props to Denise for filling in on the solo spot for today....

Huge thanks to Ms. Lisa for the pristine filming and snapping the title photo of the post!

UPDATE: Thanks to Perez Hilton for his wonderful post and praise!

PS22 Chorus Inspires Simon Cowell!

2011-05-13T16:22:00.003-04:00

Of course Simon Cowell, being who he is, is not capable of making clean work of a compliment. But in an interview that was widely circulated across the web, Simon says (in reference to PS22) that he wants "to find the next one of those." Pretty cool. That said, we're willing to forgive his ear failure with regard to the kids' Oscars performance.... ;)

Check out Simon's interview here.

American Idol Winner David Cook makes PS22 Chorus an offer...

2011-05-12T09:26:00.000-04:00

...we can hardly refuse!!

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want

2011-05-10T16:47:00.008-04:00

On a whim at rehearsal today, I decided to try this song (one of my favorite songs from high school) on the PS22 Chorus, and what a perfect fit! This is "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" by The Smiths!

Thanks to Ms. Laurie for filming!

UPDATE 5-12-11: Johnny Marr, guitarist from The Smiths, tweeted about the PS22 Chorus version of "Please, Please, Please...." -- check it out below!

Awake My Soul

2011-05-06T17:20:00.004-04:00

Here is the great song "Awake My Soul" by the amazing Mumford And Sons requested by and dedicated to our very own Ms. Lisa! With yet another fantastic cover, it's safe to say the PS22 Chorus of 2011 is on a thunderous roll -- especially when considering the kids put this performance together in about an hour's time! Props and thanks to Marquis on the bongos, Mr. Eberle on the guitar, and of course Ms. Lisa on the camera -- a winning combination! "We love you Ms. Lisa!!"

UPDATE: Very proud to see that Mumford and Sons caught wind of this video, as it appeared on M&S keyboardist Ben Lovett's Facebook page! And he says it's "awesome...." Fantastic!!

Breathing Color

2011-05-01T16:13:00.005-04:00

On Friday, the PS22 Chorus welcomed back its only third grade member from 2004, Joshua! Displaying a unique voice and serious talent even back then, we definitely knew he was destined for musical greatness! Here he is showing said greatness on his original song, "Breathing Color." And at the end of the video you can hear a vintage performance from Josh of "Memory" from the musical CATS by Andrew Lloyd Webber, recorded back in the PS22 auditorium in 2004. (For those wondering about the lyrics, Josh loved singing Italian opera, so he improvised made up Italian words for this performance.) Make sure you also catch Joshua performing with the chorus on a phenomenal version of "Breaking It Up" by Lykke Li!

APRIL 2011 POLL RESULTS!

2011-05-01T13:26:00.004-04:00

The fans have spoken and your two favorite PS22 Chorus originals are "Stay With Me" and "True North"

And make sure you vote in our new May Poll on the right sidebar! This month's poll allows you to vote for your favorite PS22 Chorus hip hop cover! Be an educated voter, and check out the 4 nominees below!

Breaking It Up

2011-04-29T17:59:00.004-04:00

While putting together this fun and amazing song by Lykke Li at rehearsal today, the PS22 Chorus of 2011 was visited by former chorus member Josh from our 2004 group. So of course, we put him to work! Josh has the distinction of being the only third grader to ever join the ranks of the PS22 Chorus. I remember being blown away by his soulful and powerful voice even back then, and he has only improved with age. It was honor to make music again with Josh after all these years, and we thank him for returning to the PS22 auditorium after so many years to inspire our 2011 members. We predict big things to come for this young man!

Thanks to Ms. Laurie for filming, Mr. Eberle for his excellent guitar work, and Mr. Marquis for his brilliant drumming!

PS22 Chorus wins Common Sense Media Award!!

2011-04-29T07:08:00.008-04:00

The PS22 Chorus opened the ceremony at the 7th Annual Common Sense Media Awards last night at Gotham Hall in Manhattan with their amazing rendition of "Firework" by Katy Perry! Afterwards, the group received its award along with President Bill Clinton, iCarly actress Miranda Cosgrove, and former NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. The kids also had the pleasure of meeting the extremely gracious Chelsea Clinton and Juju Chang while at the event. Check out all the amazing pics (most of them courtesy of Getty Images) and the beautiful video filmed by Ms. Laurie below!

The Bangles perform with PS22 Chorus at Tribeca Film Festival!

2011-04-21T13:51:00.014-04:00

The PS22 Chorus of 2011 had another great thrill yesterday, kicking off the opening ceremony of the the 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival singing "Walk Like An Egyptian" with The Bangles themselves!! Although in this particular case, nobody was more thrilled than the music teacher, as the Bangles were my favorite band in high school! The group was definitely instrumental in the development of my love for harmony and they remain a huge influence! It was wonderful to hear that they are now big fans of the kids and have been following their accomplishments! Susanna Hoffs & Vicki Peterson were completely gracious -- insisting we do it the PS22 Chorus way, and adapting their original melody to our arrangement. The performance was introduced by the extraordinary (and extraordinarily cool) actor, Denis Leary! Chorus member Marquis joined in on the drums and was a bona fide rock star tonight adding tremendously to the remarkable performance!

During the soundcheck, while experiencing some technical difficulties, we broke out into a spontaneous version of "Manic Monday" and even a little bit of "Eternal Flame." So much fun! Mr. B's dad even get's a shout out from Susanna Hoffs!

Big thanks to Craig Hatkoff for this amazing invitation and introducing us to the Bangles! Also thanks go to Mrs. Johnson for filming and to Victor & Bonnie Breinberg for the fantastic pictures that accompany this post! Also thanks to our fantastic friend Perez Hilton for posting the performance on his blog with extremely kind words, particularly to the praiseworthy performance of Marquis!

Biggest thanks certainly go to Vicki and Susanna for spending a wonderful day with us, and we are definitely hoping to make music with The Bangles again in the near future! Check out more pics below!

PS22 Chorus Meets The Bangles

Soundcheck

The performance!

Denis Leary poses with PS22!

Mr. B with his long-time heroes of harmony!

And just for fun, here are some pics from when I met the Bangles previously... about 20 years ago!! It's amazing how life can come full circle.

Alexa Woodward & PS22 Chorus

2011-04-17T11:44:00.005-04:00

The PS22 Chorus was visited by the incredibly talented folk artist Alexa Woodward yesterday who shared her talent and good energy with all of us. Check out the two beautiful songs that came out of this collaboration below!

Thanks to Alexa for taking the time to visit and share your beautiful music with us! Also thanks to Ms. Lisa & Ms. Laurie for the beautiful vids and pics (respectively)! More pics below from our wonderful afternoon with Alexa below!

PS22 Chorus sings for Japan on NHK TV

2011-04-15T07:49:00.006-04:00

Trying to do their part to lift the spirits of a country in turmoil, the PS22 Chorus kids gave an exclusive reprisal of their winning Oscar performance on NHK Television in Japan. It was shot and broadcast live this morning on Good Morning Japan, and the feedback for the kids' performance and heartfelt messages has been tremendous. For this we are deeply honored.

Thanks to Rosa Sobrino for filming this! And thanks to Ms. Laurie for the pics.

Rolling in the Deep

2011-04-12T19:45:00.005-04:00

The PS22 Chorus, featuring the one and only Denise on lead vocals, smash Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" out of the park!! LOVIN' this!! And proud to add the kids learned, recorded, and delivered this performance all today!

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for the beautiful filming!

UPDATE: Thanks to our amazing friend and supporter Perez Hilton for his extremely kind blog post about the new vid!

UPDATE 2 (4-13-11): Adele herself has stamped her seal of approval on the PS22 Chorus cover of "Rolling in the Deep" with a resounding "YESSSSSSS!"

UPDATE 3 (4-14-11): The latest video from PS22 is also garnering lots of YouTube honors including the #12 Most Viewed Music Video today!!

PS22 Chorus Joins Eric Whitacre & Friends at Lincoln Center!

2011-04-11T00:43:00.008-04:00

Today the PS22 Chorus was part of yet another prestigious performance as featured guest artist at the Eric Whitacre & Friends Concert" at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. The show was held at Avery Fisher Hall, and the kids opened the show with a setlist of 5 songs that they performed beautifully to an enthusiastic audience! You can see the entire performance below, which includes some great bonus footage of Eric Whitacre visiting before showtime -- seriously cool dude.

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for the great job filming, especially when considering how far away from the stage she was. And thanks to Victor & Bonnie Breinberg for the great pics! More below...

Price Tag

2011-04-08T17:46:00.005-04:00

The PS22 Chorus kids had a fun rehearsal today preparing for their upcoming appearance at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center with Eric Whitacre this Sunday! For an energy boost, we worked out this short version of Jessie J's hit "Price Tag" which the kids took all the way!

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for the great filming and title pic!

PS22 Chorus To Perform this Sunday at Lincoln Center!

2011-04-06T16:43:00.006-04:00

From the DCINY Newsletter:

PS22 Chorus of Staten Island

YouTube Sensation PS22 Chorus Will Perform with DCINY

The Youtube sensation PS22 Chorus will be onstage with DCINY on April 10th! Sharing the stage with composers Eric Whitacre and Greg Gilpin, PS22 will be featured in a very special appearance -- their Avery Fisher Hall debut!

Join DCINY for this exciting afternoon of music on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 2:00PM in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.

PS22 Chorus Nominated for MTV O Music Award!

2011-04-06T15:37:00.004-04:00

Very exciting news! The PS22 Chorus has been nominated in the category of Best Fan Cover for the first-ever MTV O Music Awards, honoring music delivered via the internet! You can cast your vote for PS22 Chorus's classic cover of "Lisztomania" by Phoenix after clicking on this link! In the meantime, any help spreading the word is appreciated! You can check out the video below in case you missed it the first time around....